The PCB's schedule for the 2025 Champions Trophy could have India based in a single city for the duration of the tournament, as the board looks at ways to accommodate a possible first India visit to Pakistan for almost 17 years.
Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi are the three venues in which the PCB plans to host the Champions Trophy over two weeks. ESPNcricinfo understands that the draft schedule calls for India to be based and play all their matches in Lahore – where the final is also expected to take place.
It is believed that basing India in a single city was proposed as it avoids what could be considerable logistical and security problems during their trip. Additionally, by being based in Lahore, which is close to the Wagah border crossing between the two countries, it provides Indian fans with a relatively easier option to visit.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said earlier this week that the board had sent the ICC a draft schedule for the tournament, which is expected to take place in mid-February next year. Discussions on the matter will take place among the eight participating members, with the main sticking point likely to be whether the Indian team will travel or not.
Since the return of international cricket to Pakistan in 2015, all teams involved in the Champions Trophy have toured and played in Pakistan, except India.
No Indian team has played in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. Relations between the two governments have deteriorated steadily and often sharply since then, notably after the Mumbai terrorist attacks that same year. These attacks ended a rare period of generosity in the rivalry, with the teams having faced each other in four bilateral series over the previous four years.
The final decision on whether India travels to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy will be in the hands of the Indian government, rather than the BCCI.
On Tuesday evening in Karachi, Naqvi expressed hope that “all eight teams” will come to Pakistan for the event, although he did not elaborate on India's position.
The Champions Trophy is the first ICC event that Pakistan will host since the 1996 World Cup, when it was co-host with India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan was scheduled to host the event in 2008, but it was postponed and then moved to South Africa due to the security situation in Pakistan at the time. Pakistan also lost its role as co-host of the 2011 ODI World Cup, with the 2009 terrorist attacks on the Sri Lanka team meaning there would be no international cricket in the country for the next six years.
Since the return of international cricket to Pakistan in 2015, all teams involved in the Champions Trophy have toured and played in Pakistan, except India.
Osman Samiuddin is Editor-in-Chief at ESPNcricinfo